leblanc



F. L. LEBLANC.

APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GRENADES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.7.1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- Fig.1.

F. L. LEBLANC.

APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GRENADES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. I919.

1,307,684.. Patnted June 24,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 2.

F. L. LEBLANC.

APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GRENADES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. me.

. 307,684. Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- F. L. LEBLANC.

APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GRENADES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1919.

1 ,307,684. o Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- UNITED STATES PATENT FERDINAND LAMBERT LEBLANC, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS POE IGNITING GRENADES.

Application filed March 7, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND LAMBERT LEBLANG, of 4:6 Rue Lamartine, Paris, France, engineer, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Igniting Grenades, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

As is well known, apparatus for igniting grenades comprise a' striker adapted to strike a percussion cap whose explosion produces the ignition of a fuse, which latter on the termination of its combustion causes the explosion of a detonator which ignites the explosive charge contained in the grenade.

In order that the grenade shall only explode at the end of a sufficiently long period of time after the striker has been released, it is necessary to make the fuse of some considerable length; but since in general the striker is adapted to move rectilinearly along the axis of the grenade, it is necessary to curve the fuse in order to accommodate it inside the grenade; otherwise the grenade has to be made too high. Now this curving of the fuse is unfavorable to the proper operation of the latter and is sometimes the cause of misfires.

The present invention has now for its object to provide an improved igniting apparatus so constructed as to allow the fuse to be arranged in a straight line, while making the fuse of sufficient length and keeping the grenade at its ordinary height. Further, owing to its special design, the improved apparatus affords a complete protection for the igniting parts during the period of inoperation, and it provides afree escape for the gases on ignition. Finally, the improved apparatus does not allow of any accidental release of the striker, and consequently it affords complete safety.

The improved igniting apparatus is characterized essentially by the use of a rotary striker in combination with a safety device comprising an external lever which is designed to hold the striker in the cocked position and to allow the striker to be released only at the moment when the grenade has left the hand or the apparatus by which it is thrown.

The improved system of ignition is further characterized by the use of a special obturating device which assures a watertight closure and a complete protection for the igniting parts from external agencies, more particularly damp.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Serial No. 281,244.

. Figs. 2 and 3 are two side views, one from the side of the tail of the lever and the other from the side of the fulcrum of the said lever.

Fig. 4 is-a plan, the lever being shown in section.

Figs. 5 and 6 are two vertical sections showing the striker in the cooked position and released position respectively.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the lever in perspective.

As shown in the drawings, the improved igniting apparatus comprises a plug a screwing into the body I) of the grenade and inclosing all the'igniting parts. This plug has a tubular body 0 in which is inserted the fuse (Z provided with its detonator e. The lower end of this tubular body 0 is pinched or beaded into the detonator in such a manner as to retain the fuse d and the'detonator e in place.

The tubular body 0 is formed at its upper end with a flaring orifice 7 provided with ribs g between which the percussion cap it is inserted.

Above this percussion cap a covering washer 2' of tin or other soft metal is fixed in the upper edge of the plug a (Figs. 5 and 6). This washer is intended to constitute a tight closure which will protect completely the percussion cap it and the cord 03 against external agencies, and more particularly moisture, during the inoperative period.

The plug a is further formed at its upper end with two side walls j and a cross wall j forming a chamber whichisclosed on' three sides, and inside of which there is mounted a rotary striker la. This striker may rotate on an axle Z carried by the two side walls j j and it is acted upon by a The striker in is kept cocked by a bent lever n whose shorter arm ends in a hook 0 adapted to engage a lip 10 formed on the to lie against the body I) of the grenade (Figs. 1 and 2).

A retaining pin 9 engaged in holes 1' formed in the side walls j 3' and in holes 8 the body b of the grenade by the pressure formed in the side lugs of the lever n, serves to keep the latter fixed in the position in which the latter holds the striker 7c in the cocked position.

The improved igniting apparatus is suitable for use with grenades of all shapes and sizes intended to bethrown either by hand or by means of a blunderbuss, rifle, etc.

In order to cock the improved igniting apparatus, the striker k is turned back; then,

while the latter is held back, the lever nis fittedon to the upper part of the plug a. When this lever is in its place (Figs. 1, 2 and 5), the tail of this lever resses upon the striker 7s and thus holds it 1n the cocked position. The pin 9 is then inserted in the holes 7' and s of the side walls j j and of the lever n. Then the latter is therefore completely locked and renders any accidental release of the striker is impossible.

When the grenade is to be thrown by hand, it is rasped in such a manner as to keep the tall of the lever 11. pressed back, and then the retaining pin 9 is removed, the tail of the lever n being held pressed against of the hand; the striker remaining cocked.

If the grenade is to be thrown by means of a blunderbuss', the retaining pin (1 is re moved only after the grenade has been inserted into the blunderbuss barrel, so that the tail of the lever shall be pressed against the body of the grenade by the all of-the blunderbuss barrel.

As soon as the grenade has been thrown either by hand or by means of a blunderbuss, the lever n being no longer pressed. down, yields to the pressure of the striker- 7c," pivots on the lip 10 of the head of the.

plug a and drops off. The striker is being pulled by its springm, turns on the axle Z in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 65

5,, meets the covering washer i which it pierces, and it strikes the percussion cap h which ignites the fuse.

The gases produced by the explosion of the percussion ca force off the washer and thus find immedlately an escape into the atmosphere through the free passages situated between the ribs 9.

I On the termination of its combustion the fuse d ignites the detonator e which explodes the explosive contained in the grenade.

The proper. working of the grenade is always assured and no misfire can take place because during the period of 'inoperation, the percussion cap it and the fuse d which are contained in the plug a, are completely protected from external agencies, more particularly damp, sincethe chamber in which they are contained is closed in in a tight manner at one end by the washer i and at the other end by the heading of the end of the tubular body 0 into the detonator e.

The" present igniting apparatus can be constructed in all shapes and dimensions, and the constructional details ofits various constituent parts may vary.

Claim: 4

In a grenade, a tubular plug having the bore flared outwardly at its upper end, a plurality of spacedlongitudinally disposed ribs integral with the flared portion of the plug, the spaces between the ribs constituting vents for permitting of the escape of gases, a fuse mounted in the lower portion of the bore, a detonator carried at the lower end of the plug, a percussion cap, mounted in the top of the bore. of the plug, a washer snugly fitted in the top of the plug above signed by me, this eleventh day of February, .1919. FERDINAND LAMBERT LEBLANG. 

